MR ALEX M. PATERSON, M.R.C.V.S.

Western Star, 3 February 1903, Page 2

MR ALEX M. PATERSON, M.R.C.V.S.

Mr A. M. Paterson has been appointed to the position of veterinary surgeon and • organiser of the Southland branch of the , N.Z. Farmers Union, and the Union is to ' ( be congratulated on having obtained the services of a gentleman so eminently qualified in every respect for the position. A ( brief sketch of his professional career appeared in the Southland Times on the 30th . which we reprint.. Mr Paterson was born i near Balmoral Castle, in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, and was brought up in the village of Ballater, where his farther fol- ; lowed farming pursuits. He early showed . unusual aptitude in the veterinary branch 1 of agriculture, and when he attended the Ballater school and later a school near Aberdeen he commenced studying in order to follow a course in the veterinary college. Though studying very closely the theoretical principles of veterinary science with the object stated, he neglected no opportunity of putting his knowledge into practice, and judging from the testimonials of Ballater residents the lad applied his science to cases of emergency with marked ability, showing that he grasped his studies thoroughly. In due I time Mr Paterson went to Dick’s Royal Veterinary College, Edinburgh, the oldest and most famed veterinary college in the British Isles. It may be incidentally mentioned that there are two veterinary colleges in Edinburgh, one in London and one in Dublin. After he had taken his course there Mr Paterson assisted several of the vets, in their duties, and some idea ot his exceptional capability and desire to improve, may be gleaned from the fact that while a student he availed himself of the opportunity of learning the practical part of his profession by accompanying Mr Robert Dawson, M.R.C.V.S., of Strathdon, in his daily rounds and taking an active part in the treatment of all cases under Mr Dawcare. During a severe attack of illness which prostrated the latter gentleman the young student “managed Mr Dawson’s entire practice with great success.” to use that vet.’s own words. After his course at the college, during which Mr Paterson was awarded, in addition to other medals and prizes, the bursary for having gained the highest aggregate number of marks during that period, thus testifying to his all-round ability, he was appointed for a specified time as practitioner in the district of Durris, near Abredeen, and the testimonials given him by those competent to judge proved that he gained the confidence and admiration of his patrons in that district. When his time in Durris expired Mr Paterson, who desired to enlarge his practical knowledge, went to America, and toured the whole of the States with the exception of Nevada in the North West. He there did a large amount of work in California and Texas, which latter State he visited to benefit by the great scope afforded there for prairie work. Whilst in the States Mr Paterson came into contact with the most famous of American veterinarians, but the man from whom he gained most information, and who impressed him as being the highest in the profession was Caesor Massoero, at Italian professor who was established and carried on with distinguished success a spier did hospital in San Francisco. This man had a genius for inventing operating instruments which he used with conspicuous talent. Mr Paterson found it necessary to return to Scotland, and almost as soon as he had landed he was appointed to a district close to Aberdeen, which included Cluny, Mony Musk, Midmar, and Echt. For five years he laboured here and considerably extenI ded his district. But the work, which was crowded into the winter and spring months, was heavy and arduous, and in 1 these seasons the vet was at work almost 1 day and night in most unfavourable ' weather. As an example of the work required we may state that during one i Christmas week, which ie winter time at | Home, Mr Paterson had only four t ' hours in his bed, and for a coni siderable portion of the time he , I was at work in that week he was drenched to the skin. When there an advertisement inviting applications from men competent to fill the position of veterinarians for the New Zealand Government came under his notice, and on the impulse of the moment he putin an application which was accepted, He therefore came to New Zealand in 1901, and for the greater portion of the time which Mr Paterson spent in the colony he has been in Southland. Of course Mr Paterson is, it will be seen by the heading of this article, a member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. the coveted diploma for which he gained in 1890. He has an enormous sheaf of certificates and diplomas from various associations and institutes, which establish his practical and scientific ability as an all round veterinary and agricultural expert. As an indication of his standing in this respect it may be noted that in an examination for which nearly 5000 students presented themselves there were first-class certificates given of which Mr Paterson gained one. The testimonials, too, which Mr Paterson possesses stamp him as not only a man of exceptional merit in his profession and as a lecturer but as a man of cosmopolitan tastes and wide sympaty, while his industrious habits and sociability are well known to the many Southlanders who have come into contact with him during his sojourn here. It will be thus seen that Mr Paterson has gained high honours in his profession, and this is the moie creditable m that during .his college career he was hampered by defective eyesight. As the holder of the college bursary Mr Paterson was entitled to enter for what is known as the Fitzwagram prize, competition for which was open to the two highest ptudenrs from each of the British colleges, but as one of the tests for this necessitated keen eyesight Mr Paterson knew he would fail in this respect and so stood aside that one of his fellows might have an opportunity of carrying off the prize. After leaving the college Mr Paterson was fortunate enough to find a specialist who was able to correct his eyesight.